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ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina.
- The ANC caucus in Parliament wants responses from the Cabinet on rampant Covid-19 corruption in various government departments.
- The caucus promised to strengthen committees to deal with those implicated in corrupt activities.
- However, the head of the ANC, Pemmy Majodina, said that he would not support the requests of an ad hoc committee to deal with the Covid-19 corruption.
The ANC parliamentary caucus will not support the call for an ad hoc committee to investigate Covid-19 corruption, but is instead asking the committees to strengthen their oversight role.
Party chief Pemmy Majodina said that Auditor General Kimi Makwetu’s first report, for the period ending July 31, reflected “substantial transgressions” and non-compliance with the regulations of the Public Finance Management Act.
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Majodina said that, starting this week, the caucus would begin engagements with the Cabinet, while ANC study groups would meet and prepare for the convening of portfolio and select committees to address the issues raised in the report of the AG.
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Majodina said:
It is the committees of Parliament that have powers to supervise and recommend. In this context, we will not support the convening of any ad hoc committee where Parliament’s committees have the mandate and authority to do the job. Caucus calls on committees to strengthen their oversight and submit to each House a report recommending actions when there is prima facie evidence of corrupt practices.
Earlier this month, Makwetu published damning findings on the bidding processes for Covid-19 relief funds and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Makwetu detailed how contracts had been embezzled from the R22.4 billion PPE budget; it also found clear signs of overpricing, unfair processes, and possible fraud in public procurement.
Majodina said: “The ANC committee is dismayed by these damning findings and commends the AG for exposing these malpractices, especially exposing, in the AG’s words, captured as ‘clear indicators of fraudulent activity’ in PPE procurement processes, as well such as poor record keeping and an inability to coordinate and supervise agencies and multi-departmental spheres.
“The report indicates that despite the checks and balances, these measures were not adequate to deter irregularities, especially in the acquisition of goods and services and, instead, there has been an overprice despite the regulations of the National Treasury “.
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Majodina said, however, that the Covid-19 relief funds provided aid to many South Africans in need.
“The Covid-19 Aid Package has also provided a safety net for the most vulnerable, the unemployed and the elderly through increased social grants. The Temporary Employer and Employee Aid Scheme has greatly helped those who have displaced. and they were unable to work during the shutdown or they lost their jobs. Food packages and many other interventions have also been possible through the aid package, “he said.
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